Domestic partners

Central administration bodies

Government administration units carry out bilateral projects with partner countries and provide multilateral aid in the framework of cooperation with international organisations, i.a. they transmit voluntary financial contributions or contributions to programmes and funds. Information on the scope of development cooperation activities to be carried out by government administration units in the given calendar year from funds they administrate are included in the Development Cooperation Plan for the given year. See framework documents.

In addition, government administration units have the possibility to carry out aid projects financed from MFA funds, i.e. the earmarked provision for development cooperation. Projects filed by government administration are recommended during the preparation of the provisions of the Development Cooperation Plan for the given year. The process constitutes one of the paths of the Polish development aid programming.

Local government

Cooperation with local administration was launched in 2006. Since then local governments were being ecouraged to be more involved in development assistance activities. After the announcement of the possibility of submitting project applications by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, they can submit development cooperation or democratization and civil society development projects.

Non-Governmental Organizations

Non-Governmental Organizations are one of the key partners of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in developing and implementing annual development assistance plans. Due to the specific nature of activities carried out within the framework of foreign assistance, the MFA cooperates mainly with those that conduct activities abroad.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains dialogue with NGOs in the form of exchange of correspondence, bilateral and multilateral meetings, etc. Discussions often take form of expert panels or conferences and some of them are open for public. In such cases, an information on a forthcoming meeting is posted at www.polishaid.gov.pl.

The Development Cooperation Forum is an annual event bringing together development policy stakeholders, offering ample opportunities for consultation and exchange of opinions. These include panel discussions, workshops and the presentation of Polish aid annual reports. During such meetings, the MFA collects opinions and comments on Polish development cooperation which fuel work on successive policy papers.

Every year, the MFA announces several calls for proposals in the field of development assistance, global education, volunteering programme and humanitarian aid directed in particular to NGOs.

The MFA also cooperates with non-profit organizations, social cooperatives, church legal persons, chambers of commerce and agriculture, local government and other entities.

Provincial Reconstruction Teams

Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) play an important role in rebuilding Afghanistan. Currently there are 27 such teams active in the territory of Afghanistan.

The PRT is a team of people - civilian workers and military representatives - whose task it is to support and rebuild a given province. Their tasks are centred on implementing long-term investments and projects aimed at improving the living conditions of Afghan citizens. PRTs co-operate with local administration entities and international and local organizations in implementing aid projects to develop a given region.

The team of Polish specialists in the US PRT operates in Ghazni, where Polish soldiers are stationed and where most Polish foreign aid is directed. It began carrying out its tasks in the framework of PRT Ghazni on June 28, 2008, during the third rotation of the Polish Military Contingent in Afghanistan. The Team consists of civilian specialists (dealing with social, legal, educational and infrastructural issues, road and bridge construction and local media contacts), two officers from the Central Support Group for Civilian-Military Co-operation (including the head of the Specialists Team - deputy head of PRT Ghazni) and a security group. The PRT's key task is the implementation of aid programmes.

In 2002-2009, over 100 projects were implemented in the framework of the Polish foreign aid programme, amounting to a total sum of PLN 55m (USD 16.7m).

In 2009, the funds allocated towards development aid in Afghanistan saw a significant boost - they increased fivefold on 2008. The funds administered by the MFA and allocated for this purpose amounted to PLN 40m (approx. USD 12m). Most of the funds were channelled towards projects implemented by the Polish Specialists Team in PRT Ghazni. In 2009, the Team implemented 34 projects: 27 investment projects and 7 training projects. In 2009, the total funding for PRT projects equalled PLN 22.374m (approx. USD 7m).

In 2011, the amount of Polish development aid for Afghanistan remained at a level similar to that of 2010, equalling PLN 34m (approx. USD 12m).

Polish Diplomatic Missions

The Small Grants System provides additional financing for aid activities which are initiated and drafted locally (in partner countries). Projects financed in its framework are put forward by Polish foreign service posts and are characterized by fairly limited implementation costs. They aim to produce direct, positive consequences for the everyday lives of local communities. They include such tasks as building wells, minor infrastructure revitalization works, purchasing equipment for hospitals and school, as well as various types of trainings.